What Is Shift?

“We shift mindsets and practices through direct dialogue and capacity building. We are a team that works directly with companies, governments, civil society, investors and others to bring about a world in which business gets done with respect for people’s fundamental welfare and dignity.”

Shift is the leading center of expertise on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Our team facilitates dialogue, builds capacity and develops new approaches with companies, government, civil society organizations and international institutions to enable them to implement the Guiding Principles. We are a non-profit, mission-driven organization.

Raising public awareness about the value of the Guiding Principles and providing on-the-ground training.

“The Shift team’s unique combination of strategic policy advice and practical experience with companies and other stakeholders has been invaluable to our work.”

Mariëtte Hamer, President, Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands

Our vision is a future where businesses know what they need to do to respect human rights, and markets drive and reward leading practice.

To achieve our vision we equip business leaders to implement the Guiding Principles, and we engage those who influence companies' action to create the incentives, requirements and collaboration needed to embed respect for human rights into business.